I made it through last week and stuck to my intended schedule – and only made Shelley Munro’s 5-minute mug cake once (we won’t talk about all the birthday cake that’s been consumed in the last few weeks now, will we??) I love love love my yoga class and even though I question why I paid someone to torture me at the beginning of my water aerobics class by the end of that workout I’m feeling pretty good as well. Curves gym, though – that’s another matter.
I’ve never been much of a joiner. I used to blame my parents – every time I asked to join an after school club the answer was always no because they were working and couldn’t be there to pick me up afterwards. They may have set a pattern early, but it’s me that carried it on. I wasn’t a cheerleader, never joined any clubs in high school – don’t tend to join clubs now. I’m not anti-social exactly, I just like to keep my options open. The only groups I frequent are those with no rules or mission statements.
I like Curves, I really do. I like the machine work and I really like the structure of the workout routine. Thirty seconds, then switch to the next activity. Being finished in half an hour is great. But because I’m already very self-motivated, what I’m not so up with is the rah-rah, you-can-do-it motivational atmosphere they strive for.
For instance: every month there is a calendar sheet that comes out and every day there is a different “activity” listed. Participate in the activity and you earn points which can be redeemed for Curves merchandise.
So I go in the other day and they are playing Arabic music, instead of the usual techo-beat pop music they usually play. Okay – we are in Egypt and the clientele is mixed so I guess it stands to reason they’d mix the music up periodically. But have you ever tried to exercise to Arabic music? It has a much different rhythm to it. I hadn’t realized how effective the pop music was to getting me to move fast.
I was doing my thing, trying to tune the music out, when one of the assistants came up to me and asked me if I knew how to belly dance. Huh? Because I was annoyed and just wanted to be left alone, I was rather abrupt with her and said no and went back to my workout. As I was doing the cool-down stretch sequence, I noticed on the calendar that it was “show us your belly dance moves” day. I missed my chance to earn 1 point.
Oh well – there’s always next Monday. And if I wear a Halloween costume to work-out on the 30th I can earn 10 points. Can you image what a dork I’d look like dressed up like a black cat, working the weight machine? Now there’s some motivation for you!
[...] Jenyfer wrote an interesting post today onSelf-Motivated GrouchHere’s a quick excerptAnd if I wear a Halloween costume to work-out on the 30th I can earn 10 points. Can you image what a dork I’d look like dressed up like a black cat, working the weight machine? Now there’s some motivation for you! … [...]
by Halloween Ideas Blog » Blog Archive » Self-Motivated Grouch October 21st, 2008 at 12:20 amI guess they’re trying to make it a fun place. I think I’m a bit like you – I’d prefer to go to do a workout and leave it at that.
by Shelley Munro October 21st, 2008 at 3:11 pmThey were back to pop music today. I’ve never been so glad to hear Wham! in my life
by Jenyfer October 22nd, 2008 at 5:24 am